The Friends of Eddie Coyle Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Peter Yates
USA 1974

In one of the best performances of his legendary career, Robert Mitchum plays small-time gunrunner Eddie “Fingers” Coyle in Peter Yates’s adaptation of George V. Higgins’s acclaimed novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle. World-weary and living hand to mouth, Coyle works on the sidelines of the seedy Boston underworld just to make ends meet. But when he finds himself facing a second stretch of hard time, he’s forced to weigh loyalty to his criminal colleagues against snitching to stay free. Directed with a sharp eye for its gritty locales and an open heart for its less-than-heroic characters, this is one of the true treasures of 1970s Hollywood filmmaking—a suspenseful crime drama in stark, unforgiving daylight.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 26th, 1973

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine #475 - Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Collection - Spine # 475 - Region 'A' Blu-ray	Masters of Cinema - Spine # 121 Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:42:06	1:42:15.712	1:42:07.162
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.78 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 30,492,720,918 bytes Feature Size: 30,179,026,944 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video	Disc Size: 47,540,556,153 bytes Feature Size: 29,880,444,288 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.92 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Criterion Blu-ray
Bitrate: Masters of Cinema Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, None	English (SDH), None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary featuring Yates • Stills gallery • 42-page liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by film critic Kent Jones and a 1973 on-set profile of Robert Mitchum from Rolling Stone DVD Release Date: May 19th, 2009 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 27	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Disc Size: 30,492,720,918 bytes Feature Size: 30,179,026,944 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary featuring Yates • Stills gallery • An essay by critic Kent Jones and a 1973 on-set profile of actor Robert Mitchum from Rolling Stone Blu-ray Release Date: April 28th, 2015 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 26	Release Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema Disc Size: 47,540,556,153 bytes Feature Size: 29,880,444,288 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.92 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video Edition Details: • A new video appreciation of the film by critic Glenn Kenny (22:18) • A 1996 career-spanning on-stage interview with Peter Yates hosted by critic Derek Malcolm (1:17:12) • 44-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new essay on the film by critic Mike Sutton; an extensive interview with Yates, and archival images Blu-ray Release Date: January 18th, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 7

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (January 2016): I thought there might be some slight differences in-motion with the Criterion, but if there are I'm not picking it up. The video transfers are both max'ed out and look excellent supporting the film's textures and colors. s

Masters of Cinema utilize a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at a healthy 2304 kbps (24-bit). It sounds marginally more robust than the Criterion - notable in Dave Grusin's (The Front, ...And Justice For All, 3 Days of the Condor) score that sounds tight and atmospheric via the lossless track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the disc is region 'B'-locked.

Masters of Cinema add a new, 22-minute, video appreciation of the film by critic Glenn Kenny, filmed in NY 2015, who discusses the book, the film's glamour-less aura, how well it holds up, and details on the production. It's very good and worth indulging. They also add a 1 1/4 hour, 1996, career-spanning, on-stage, interview at the NFT with Peter Yates hosted by critic Derek Malcolm which is quite interesting if you watch it all. I learned a lot. The package has a 44-page liner notes booklet featuring a new essay on the film by critic Mike Sutton; an extensive interview with Yates, and archival images.

The film is becoming a favorite - my esteem for Mitchum grows every time I watch The Friends of Eddie Coyle and there is so much I love about this. It's brilliant and Region 'B'-locked audiences should snap this up. A very strong recommendation!

***

ADDITION: Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray: April 2015: You can see the improvement of the higher resolution in the screen captures below. Flesh tones warm, detail rises and there is a sense of depth. This look far more like 'film' than 'video' now. The noise present in the SD is now gone and the image looks great in-motion. It is on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a max'ed out bitrate.

Criterion use a linear PCM monaural transfer that sounds authentic and has more depth than their 2009 DVD. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras mimic the DVD with the commentary from director Peter Yates, the Still Gallery and some liner notes with an essay by critic Kent Jones and a 1973 on-set profile of actor Robert Mitchum from Rolling Stone.

I've seen this a couple of times before but the Criterion Blu-ray gives, by far, the best presentation. Even considering Mitchum's iconic career - this is possibly his best role ever and Yates subdued direction let's the aged star's value run right through the potent narrative. This film and Blu-ray disc are strongly recommended.

***

ON THE DVD: The Criterion restoration looks pretty solid. It is touted as 'director approved' and it looks quite excellent aside from some very minor noise. Expectantly it is dual-layered, progressive and anamorphic in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Detail is impressive in close-ups and I can even see some fine grain. I can't imagine it looking much better on the DVD format.

Audio is mono but consistent and clear. There are, as always, optional English subtitles.

Extras reside almost solely on the doorstep of the Yates (Bullitt fame) commentary. There are gaps but having the director discuss his film makes for the most informative film discussions. It encourages further appreciation - not that I needed much more. There is a short gallery of behind the scenes photos - mostly of Mitchum. Criterion have included a healthy liner notes booklet (42 pages long) with photos and new essay by film critic Kent Jones and a 1973 on-set profile of Robert Mitchum from Rolling Stone.

Gary W. Tooze